Lifestyle

Pie Time lands in Southern Highlands in June

Renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, cool-climate wines, fresh produce, vibrant events and quaint country charm, the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands are wonderful to explore any time of the year. Visit Bowral, Berrima, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, Burrawang and Mittagong to discover Australian cricket heritage, golf courses, spectacular waterfalls, and antique shopping.

For example, view the spectacular Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park from a lookout perched 100m above the falls. Taste test local produce including cheese from Robertson Cheese Factory and Pecora Dairy. Enjoy the region’s cool climate wines. Wander through the historic village of Berrima, which boasts a unique collection of unspoilt Georgian sandstone homes and historic public buildings from the 19th century.

Explore the Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame and learn about Sir Donald Bradman’s close association with the region. The Museum features numerous tributes to Bradman, an expanded range of displays including original and match used equipment, and interactive touch screens.

I have known about the famous pie shop at Robertson for some years and stopped there often en route to the coast. Now the region is claiming to have the best pies in Australia although there are undoubtedly other places that would claim that honour.

To justify that claim throughout the month of June, the region will celebrate the great Australian pie with the inaugural ‘Pie Time’ – a series of mouth-watering pie themed events and festivals.

In the words of Steve Rosa, Manager, Tourism and Events, Destination Southern Highlands, “we all know Australians just love a local pie. The Southern Highlands has a large saturation of quality pie producers with everything from your top-notch gourmet pies, to family winter warmers and deliciously sweet dessert pies.

What better way to demonstrate some pie parochialism than with a pie festival, pie trail, pie competition and related pie events featuring over 30 local pie sites including bakeries, cafes, restaurants, hotels and associated businesses in the Southern Highlands. In essence, we’ll become the Southern Pie-lands throughout June.”

Pie Time has four main components. The Pie Time Festival – a festival featuring pie tasting, beer and pie matching, cooking demonstrations, pie eating, competitions, music and more to be held on the 24th and 25th June in Bowral’s Corbett Gardens; Southern Highlands’ Best Pie Competition – a pie competition for professional and apprentice bakers plus a local community entry category with people’s choice awards to be held 22nd and 23rd June, also in Bowral’s Corbett Gardens; the Pie Trail where visitors can tour and sample locally made pies from over 30 local pie outlets; and Dine with a Pie – where visitors can sample the region’s signature pies at hotels, cafes and restaurants available only for the month of June.

Pies can be enjoyed at all of the Southern Highlands’ key attractions and spectacular locations, for example, the Illawarra Fly, Bradman Museum’s Stumps Café, Fitzroy Falls, galleries, pubs and restaurants. It really will be the destination to experience, enjoy and worship the great Australian pastime of eating the great Australian pie.

Pie Time will be an accessible, fun and a quirky way to look at the Southern Highlands.

Visitors can come for the pies, then stay on with a ‘Pie, Bed & Breakfast’ package and experience all that the Highlands has to offer along the way.

A visit to Bowral’s Corbett Gardens sounds like a great option for families with kids.

I also like the idea of “the Pie Trail” … I think our family’s June weekend holiday is sorted now! “visitors can tour and sample locally made pies from over 30 local pie outlets; and Dine with a Pie – where visitors can sample the region’s signature pies at hotels, cafes and restaurants available only for the month of June.”